Never Had Colonoscopy Makes Risk Higher?

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My mother has never had a colonoscopy and she is 58 years old. I understand she should have had one at age 50. Does this put her at higher risk to develop colon cancer?

David Metz, MD, Professor of Gastroenterology at Penn Medicine, responds:

Her risk for colorectal cancer is not higher because she has not had a colonoscopy per se as this is an innate risk. However, if she has polyps they are likely more advanced at age 58 than age 50 and are more likely to be "on the road to cancer". We generally recommend screening for average risk individuals to start at age 50 because this is the age at which the incidence of cancer starts rising. Remember that the aim of screening is to detect precancerous lesions that can be removed before cancer develops.

Jun 18, 2012 - Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors -- those ages 15 to 29 years at their first diagnosis -- report higher rates of unhealthy behaviors, chronic medical conditions, and less access to health care than respondents who never had cancer, and may be at risk for poor long-term health outcomes, according to a study published online June 11 in Cancer.